Pittasoma
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P. michleri |
Pittasoma is a genus of birds in the gnateater family. Its two members breed in subtropical or tropical moist forest in South America. They were reclassified to this family following analysis of mtDNA cytochrome b and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 sequences (Rice 2005a,b).
They might perhaps more appropriately called gnatpittas as their similarity to the true antpittas is due to convergent evolution. They are very closely related to the antbirds and less closely to the antpittas and tapaculos.
They are round, short-tailed, and long-legged birds, about 12-18 cm (5-7 inches) in length. They are quite upright when standing. They have barring on the belly. Sexes differ in plumage, but sexual dichromatism is less pronounced than in the other gnateater genus, Conopophaga . species have a white tuft behind the eye. They are insectivorous
The species are
- Black-crowned "Antpitta", Pittasoma michleri
- Rufous-crowned "Antpitta", Pittasoma rufopileatum
[edit] References
- Rice, Nathan H. (2005a): Phylogenetic relationships of antpitta genera (Passeriformes: Formicariidae). Auk 122(2): 673-683. [English with Spanish abstract] DOI:10.1642/0004-8038(2005)122[0673:PROAGP]2.0.CO;2 PDF fulltext
- Rice, Nathan H. (2005b): Further Evidence for Paraphyly of the Formicariidae (Passeriformes). Condor 107(4): 910-915. [English with Spanish abstract] doi:10.1650/7696.1 PDF fulltext
- Whitney, B.M. (2003) Family Conopophagidae (Gnateaters) Pp 732-748 in del Hoyo J., Elliott A. & Christie D.A. (2003) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 8. Broadbills to Tapaculos Lynx Edicions, Barcelona ISBN 84-87334-50-4
